LONG BEACH >> The Long Beach Fire Department sent a strike team to help battle the Colby Fire in the hills above Glendora, officials said Thursday.

“A strike team consists of a battalion chief and five engines,” said Will Nash, spokesman for the Long Beach Fire Department.

The Colby Fire was reported at 5:50 a.m. near Glendora Mountain Road and Colby Trail Motorway, about three to four miles north of Glendora, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Supervisor Kyle Sandford.

An additional four-person engine from Long Beach Fire was teamed up with the Downey Fire Department to complete a mixed strike team, Nash said in a release.

Both teams arrived at the Glendora staging location shortly before noon.

As for the Long Beach Police Department, it “is prepared to respond, but has not been asked to provide mutual aid,” said Marlene Arrona, spokeswoman for the department.

Smoke from the Colby Fire blanketed the Long Beach area leading the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services to announce that air quality in the area could be affected.

As of Thursday afternoon, the air quality in the city was listed as moderate, officials said. They advised residents to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities especially in areas where people can see or smell smoke.

When Long Beach Fire assists an outside city, additional LBFD personnel will replace them at Long Beach fire stations in order to ensure the city is covered and firefighters can respond to emergencies within the city, Nash said in a statement.